Protector (EN)

Chapter 19

Tony's view

I've been sitting in front of the screen at the shop and haven't seen anything from the Haker in the last couple of days. Just not a trace. Has he given up? I think not. There's something fishy going on.

I then went to the next screen and approached the program, which was not yet installed. It wasn't supposed to be installed either, but I wanted to know what this program had going for it. I could not find out much.

After a few minutes Bruce and Pepper came to the workshop. It wasn't often that Bruce was here. Most of the time he needed something. I wondered what it would be today.

"Hey, Tony." Pepper greeted me and then kissed me on the cheek. "I don't even see you up there anymore." She remarked.

"There's a lot to do, Pepp." I love nicknames. Anyone who gets a nickname from me, then it's always something original. For example, Cap. He's called Igloo by me. You can guess your part.

"Don't forget to apologize to Juli." She whispered in my ear and left. That's it? She just came down here to remind me? You can do that.

"Mr. Stark? Did you find out anything that concerns the hacker?" Inquired Bruce.

"Right now there's no sign of the hacker." I answered curtly. I deliberately didn't mention the program. It's off the system, after all, and I was careful to make sure it didn't show up in the system again.

"We need to know who this hacker is. For all we know, it has to be someone who knows how to get into the system." Stated Bruce again.

"We've been there." I muttered.
Bruce joined me at the screen when suddenly a warning lit up on the screen with the USB. I tapped on it a few times Rum, but couldn't figure out what it was.

"What's wrong?" Banner asked, confused.

"I don't know." I replied curtly. Strange. I checked the USB again for the file, but it was still the same as before.

"Jarvis? What just happened?" I asked the AI, which strangely did not answer me.

"Jarvis?" I asked again.

"Is it broken?" Asked Banner now.

"I don't think so. There's something wrong." I stated.

"Mr. Stark? You lost this time." I heard the AI's voice. What's happening.

"Jarvis? What are you talking about?" I asked the AI.

"Say goodbye to 'Jarvis.' This is Viper. Thanks again for your help. You did exactly what I hoped you would. But knowing you, you'd do it that way any time." Continued the AI, who now called herself Viper.

"Who are you and what do you want?" I asked into the air.

"The program. They took it down from S.C.H.I.E.L.D.'s server and put it on their own. That's what I wanted, so I could download the file without any problems. And now I can claim your AI for myself, which I lacked for a very long time." He explained. "But I must say, you were already on the right track as far as I'm concerned. I'm an agent of S.C.H.I.E.L.D and I've been watching you for so long. I'm only missing one thing, and you're the only one who can give it to me. The arc reactor in your chest. That's what I need and I'm sure you'll give it to me." Viper demanded of me.

"You can throw that in the S.C.H.I.E.L.D. garbage can." I responded. What does he expect? That I dance to his tune. Banner and I say to each other stiffly.

"We'll see about that." Viper said, until I went all the way down the tower, which got to Jarvis. I never usually did, but in that case we had no choice or he would hear everything we discussed.

"Banner, round up all the Avengers. I think we have a new opponent." To which the latter nodded and quickly left the workshop. I wasn't just that upset. If I give Viper my arc reactor, I could die. I still have a few spare reactors in the safe in case this one in my chest loses power. But giving a reaction to Viper, which I don't know what he even wants to do with it, I couldn't do. He was a lunatic. Just like all our opponents.

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Julis view

At this meeting, even those who were not there last time were present. Among them were Scott aka Ant-man, T'Challa aka Black Panther, Bucky aka Winter Soldier, Stephen aka Dr. Strange, Sam aka Falcon, Vision, Drax, Gamora, Groot, Rocket and Peter aka Star Lord. And of course the other Avengers.

I was able to meet the new ones today. They were really cool. Well, as cool as the others. I just got along with someone super.

"And what problems do you have again." If looks could kill. I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled. I just wanted to make sure I was in a good mood.

"Viper." Called my dad. Whatever he was trying to say, couldn't he talk normally like everyone else?

"Who or what is that?" Thor finally inquired.

"Our new opponent." Replied Dad, leaning against a doorframe in the lobby.

"Did you find out who that is and how?" Steve inquired.

"He hacked Jarvis and explained everything to us. We took him out." Interjected Banner.

"So that means he's not a problem anymore?" Thor asked, confused. Dad sighed, shaking his head at that.

"We took out Jarvis, not Viper. I had to shut Jarvis down so Viper couldn't spy on us. Thor nodded in confirmation that he understood.

"Who is Viper exactly?" Peter Qill probed.

"I don't know exactly, but he's definitely a member of S.C.H.I.E.L.D.. He's confirmed that for us." Clarified Dad again. "But I know what else he wants." Noted Dad. Everyone looked at him expectantly. "He's missing the arc reactor." Pointing to his chest, "He already has Jarvis. Whatever he NEEDS those things for, we have to stop him first." And demanded everyone be ready to stop Viper.

There was silence. No one did or said anything.

Silence.

Then Drax started coughing, Sam cursing, Thor threatening, Stephen laughing shrilly, Bucky cursing, Natasha and Clint screaming, Steve yelling, and Bruce quietly making a run for it. With me.

When Bruce and I were in the lab, I had to question him. I missed so many things there, like I had to know too.

"Why doesn't Dad give the reactor to Viper? Maybe he doesn't mean any harm." I asked, shrugging my shoulders.

"He can't do that. Even if he has no evil intentions, your dad can't live without the reactor." Explained Banner to me.

"Aso. I see. He's addicted to it." I tried to understand, even though I didn't know what exactly an arc reactor was supposed to be.

"No," he then laughed out. "He NEEDS it because he'll die without it. Your dad got hurt badly by a missile once. The rocket explosion caused metal shards to enter your dad's body. And the arc reactor is to prevent the shards from reaching his heart and killing him." He explained.

Does Viper want dad dead? And why did he need the reactor?